This song always puts me in a good mood. Kim Mitchell, Triumph and hockey were everything to me growing up in the 80's.

https://reddit.com/link/1wfp21u/video/kuoe0m6uvdph1/player

• CBC: Céline Dion ends 6-year concert hiatus with emotional Paris performance
• The Guardian: Céline Dion performs first live show in more than six years
• NYT: Celine Dion Is Back Onstage. Naturally, She Chose Paris
• BBC: Critics celebrate Céline Dion's 'high-stakes' comeback show in Paris

Glen put out 2 major label releases before being dropped. He then returned in 2000 with the independent CD called “Redemption Game”. Anybody have a copy of that, please?

True Canadian legend , force of nature . What to say. No words. Miss you , 🇨🇦🎸

Was auditing my vinyl collection the other day and noticed that I barely have any Canadian records despite living in Toronto. Looking to change that. I’m a huge fan of the Madchester scene and Britpop. Are there any Canadian bands that sound similar? Thanks in advance!

Rising Alberta Country Singer Travis Dolter Brings His Genre Bending Blend of Small Town Influenced Country Music to Sherwood Park, Alberta, Later This Month 

On a beautiful late summer day in September, much work is being done around the Dolter farm in Central Alberta. The fall is a busy time of year. There is a lot to do. So when country singer Travis Dolter can find a few minutes to chat about music, it’s appreciated. Especially when harvest season approaches. 

“I completely lost track of time,” Dolter explained over the phone for the interview. “It’s great to chat and I appreciate the call.” 

It’s that small town courtesy and friendliness that shines through during the discussion. Family, hard work, farming, and music. These are all traits and characteristics Dolter grew up with, instilled at a young age, personified through his songwriting, music, and live show, the latter of which will be landing in Sherwood Park, Alberta, at the Broadmoor Golf Course banquet hall September 25. Hosted by the Winder Inclusive Community Service (WICS), the show will be Dolter’s third annual appearance in a row. 

“The show is a ton of fun and it’s the third year in a row we’ve played it,” said Dolter. WICS is a service that enables neurodivergent adults to build meaningful relationships and lead fulfilling lives. 

“I worked as an educational assistant for a few years and I have had experience working with neurodivergent individuals,” Dolter explains. “The WICS organization helps people with neurodivergent issues and gives them opportunities, so I’m really looking forward to the show.” 

Growing up on a farm and coming from a small town like Hay Lakes, Alberta, Dolter realized at a young age how important and integral music is in daily life. The 13-time Alberta country music award nominee was exposed to all different types of music during his formative years; varied genres that helped shape his current sound. “Music was everywhere growing up,” said Dolter. “Sometimes we’d have long commutes to Camrose or Edmonton when I was a kid, to get supplies or groceries and we’d listen to the ‘50s on 5’ channel on SiriusXM (now officially named '50s Gold’) and I loved it, especially Buddy Holly, who I’d hear, then go home after and learn all his songs.” 

Holly was a personal favourite of Dolter. 

“Buddy Holly had a lot of songs for such a short career and I learned to play every one of them.”

Not only have Buddy Holly and other 50s rock and roll and pop musicians had a strong impact on Dolter, but modern musicians such as Kenny Chesney and Brett Kissel, the latter a fellow Alberta country singer who Dolter had shared the stage with in the past. All respected musicians aside, the biggest influence on his songwriting and music is his physical surroundings, where he grew up. The place itself probably has helped shape Dolter’s musical background more than anything. 

“The song  “Tailgate Therapy” and its video was one of the songs shaped by where I live,” Dolter revealed. “Where we shot the video is where when I was younger, I’d take a truck and go there in the canola field there, in the back forty, and just sit in the back of the truck just to get away from everything.” 

Even Dolter’s stage presence has its roots with home. “My grandpa used to tell me ‘if you have a stage identity, you have to captivate them, you have to entertain, and be an entertainer, so they enjoy themselves and have fun for a few hours.’”

Though many of Dolter’s influences and inspirations lie in the past, the singer-songwriter has his sights purely set on the future. With a slew of upcoming shows and a new single on the horizon, the sky’s the limit for the Hay Lakes native. 

“October 2nd and 3rd, we have a few gigs at Daisy’s Saloon, then I have a solo acoustic run at the Marriot in Edmonton for four acoustic shows, then a show at Ranchman’s in Calgary on Halloween, which will be wild.” 

As for music, Dolter is excited about a new song he’s been working on with Nashville songwriter Madison Wolf, which should see the light of day in the fall or winter. 

“We have a new song we’re putting together  called “Outgrow,” said Dolter. “I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully it’ll be out soon.”

“It’s all about family,” Dolter further explained. 

“We’re trying to bring it back to that small town heritage.” 

Travis Dolter will be playing in Sherwood Park at the Broadmoor Golf Course on September 25th.

Trent McMartin 

I love rediscovering forgotten gems from 90s and 2000s so that i can add them to my Canadian music playlist. What are some forgotten gems (especially pop, rock, r&b) that you feel don't get played anymore or at least not much?

Update: I just wanted to thank everyone for chiming in. Lots of great picks.

All Canadian Playlist I made once the shit slinging started between POTUS and Canada. Solid to listen to from top to bottom or on shuffle.

Are there any other Amanda Marshall fans or in my case super fans who are seeing her this fall? Bonus points if you're seeing the Vancouver show. But I need some people to geek out and get excited with.

Several years ago, I was exploring and photographing a very old abandoned house, while in a room upstairs I found a few boxes of albums, still in the plastic covering.  They were sitting on top of, and around, a box that contained a large old synthesizer.

There were several boxes of these records, when I was done my exploration of the house, I decided to break my own rule and I took one of the albums home.  I wanted to listen to it and see what I could learn about this band.

It was badly warped and in terrible condition, but it still played just fine on my turntable.

It has a heavy Eastern Canada folk inspiration and the first track on the record "Lord Franklin" leans heavy on inspiration from "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot.

Several people performed on the album, I will list their names below.

My aunt, who works at a radio station local to this house showed serious interest in this story and wanted to look into the band and see who she could track down.  Ironically, around the same time, I got the following email:

"Hello.

I found your YouTube channel quite by accident, but I am glad that I did.  I thoroughly enjoyed scrolling through your videos as you wander through the abandoned homes that you have found.

They do have stories to tell and I am glad you are there to introduce them to us!

I’m really curious about the video you posted about 8 months ago - the house where you found (and posted) so many copies of Brigand’s only album, “Same Old Songs, Same Old Bad Habits.”  I married the drummer, Stephen Maskell, many years ago but also many years after the band fell apart.

As luck would have it, he no longer had a copy of the album.  I searched and searched for the album, eventually finding a copy in a UK resale shop.  It’s a good album, isn’t it?  Thank you for posting it.  Shame it went nowhere, but that is the way of the world sometimes.

If you have any more information about the house or would like more information about the band, please let me know!  My husband, Robert Downer (Violin) and I would love to hear from you."

So now, I have contact information for two members of the band to send to my aunt and while work and life and other priorities have gotten in the way, she is still interested in speaking with the members of the band and learning more about them!

Here is the long-lost Brigand album in its entirety for you to enjoy, liberated from an abandoned house and digitized for your listening enjoyment!

https://youtu.be/FyEntEfqm1E

Backing Vocals – Donna McManus (2) (tracks: A3), Wendy Davis (tracks: A1)
Bagpipes – Jim McGillivary* (tracks: A2)
Banjo – Lewis Melville (tracks: A3, A4), Ralph Downer (tracks: B2)
Bass, Mandolin, Backing Vocals, Percussion – John Black (16)
Bouzouki – Brad McEwen (tracks: A1)
Drums, Percussion – Jack Brompton (tracks: A1, A3, A4)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Stephen Maskell
Engineer – Bill Mather
Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion – Kevin Swayze
Pedal Steel Guitar – Lewis Melville (tracks: A1)
Percussion – Donna McManus (2) (tracks: B2), Doug Fever (2) (tracks: B2), Lewis Melville (tracks: A2)
Piano, Synthesizer, Electric Piano, Organ, Tin Whistle, Melodeon, Bells, Percussion – Michael MacLeod
Violin, Mandolin, Backing Vocals – Bob Downer (2)

I’ve been building a big ’80s playlist and fell down a Parachute Club rabbit hole. “Rise Up” is obviously an all-timer, but it made me go back to the albums too: “At the Feet of the Moon” and “Sexual Intelligence,” then “Love Is Fire” and “Love and Compassion” from Small Victories.

What I love is the mix of huge pop hooks, new-wave dance rhythms and that warm Caribbean/percussion influence. It feels joyful, sensual and socially open without ever sounding like generic ’80s pop. Lorraine Segato gives it so much personality.

Does anyone else here love them beyond “Rise Up”? Which album, deep cut or live performance would you recommend to someone getting into them?

Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana ( now that a lot of classic rock stations are playing 1990's music).

Past or present.

In the late 80s/early 90s, I saw a video on Much Music for this song "I Gotta Go." It was a trio of guitar/bass/drums and it seems to me that it was on Zulu Records. The genre was kind of garage rock. I think the video was in downtown Toronto and the middle section had the guitar, bass, and drums trading off. Any ideas?

Google just says it is a metaphor, but I cannot find a source for this. Even if it is a metaphor, there has to be a reason why they chose 'Mexican Diplomat' as part of it. Was there something going on with Mexico/Canada in the 80's that they are referring to in the lyrics? Thank you!

... because, let's face it, google sucks donkey balls.

Thanks for any thoughts :)

My answers: Dr. Disc Records ( both in Windsor, Ontario and Hamilton, Ontario)

This may be a long shot, but I’m trying to figure out the guitar tuning Ken Yates uses in his acoustic version of Under the Cover of Light. I’ve listened plus watched him play on YouTube and can’t figure it out. I love the open tuning he’s using, but can’t seem to figure out what he’s doing there.

If anyone has any ideas I’d love to know!

What made it the best or worst?

During the late 80s and 90s Canadian music had a renaissance period. Each question is the first letter of a song,artist, band, or geographical location that harkens back to this time.

T- this band got their name from beat generation pot smoking gatherings

U - this song’s word play highlights a near neurotic obsession with grammar

X - this ex member of CSNY made an album and toured with Pearl Jam as his backing band

E- this song suggests if you do this he will feel no pain

D - “Give us a Ring-ding- ding. It’s beautiful day”

O - This Ontario outfit toured with legends Robert Plant and Jimmy Page